The 3 shot passerby

Robin Guymer · Jan 18, 2020

Have you run into those kind souls who uninvited just offer their talented services to take your photo because they see your mucking around with your camera and clearly need a group selfie? So as this often happens to me when I'm taking pics of the grand kids that a passing kind soul asks the question. Sure I say and pass them my film camera first looping the strap over their heads followed by a quick lesson on just how to use the camera seeing as it will need focusing. But it is never just one photo! No way because there seems the inevitable requirement that another shot must be taken assuming they probably stuffed the first one up, particularly as they have done a quick look at the rear of the camera looking for the screen. Then there is the lesson on how to wind the camera on for the next shot. Of course they liked it the 2nd time so before you can say that'll do, they've wound on like a pro and shot off a third. By then your breaking away from the pose to grab that camera before round 4. Too late yesterday as I'd handed her my F4 and she rattled off 4 shots before we could finish saying cheese!

Sirius Glass · Jan 18, 2020

I do not let a stranger take my camera and I would never put the neck strap over their head. Maybe if you had a Rollei, Hasselblad, press camera or a Leica, you would not be so cavalier.

Vaughn · Jan 18, 2020

First world problems, mate...

Just say, "No thanks, can I take your photograph?"

Robin Guymer · Jan 18, 2020

Sirius Glass said:
I do not let a stranger take my camera and I would never put the neck strap over their head. Maybe if you had a Rollei, Hasselblad, press camera or a Leica, you would not be so cavalier.

Actually I have handed my M3 to a lady offering to take our photos. She commented on what a superb camera it was after finding it wasn’t digital.

k.hendrik · Jan 18, 2020

You PASS voluntary your precious Nikon F4 to a 'kind' goon? asking for a violent robbery !
Even in my own house; nobody toucha my apperatus without my strickt permission

Robin Guymer · Jan 18, 2020

Gee I thought this would be a fun thread. Am astonished that the replies are all about potential crime. Glad I live in Australia despite we are going up in smoke.

Vaughn · Jan 18, 2020

I'm standing there with my LF camera (5x7 up to 11x14), and I get asked to snap someone's photo for them using their camera/phone. Yes...sometimes I have to ask them where the darn button is, saying "Sorry, I'm not use to cameras with batteries...". Good for a laugh! And gets them thinking -- a camera without the need for batteries? No need for power of any kind? (well, mechanical power stored in springs). I routinely use a 110 year old camera -- that takes a while to sink in for some people.

Even better, someone will come up and put their camera/phone right next to my 8x10 camera and take a photo -- I tell them they should put their camera right above my lens to capture the same perspective...I might even recommend a focal length to match my lens. No one has ever taken me up on it.

MattKing · Jan 18, 2020

Actually, I wonder whether this might be an Australian thing.
I certainly have had people engage me because they are interested in my camera, and on a couple of occasions (weddings and family celebrations) I have asked someone to take a photograph of a group that I am part of with my camera, but I don't think I have ever encountered anyone who asked to use my camera.
I have had a number of people see my camera and then ask me to take their photo using their (cel phone) camera. I expect they are disappointed that they did, because I find cel phone cameras to be really awkward!

Kino · Jan 18, 2020

Robin Guymer said:
HToo late yesterday as I'd handed her my F4 and she rattled off 4 shots before we could finish saying cheese!

Should have put it on "single" shot mode!

awty · Jan 18, 2020

We have a low crime rate here in Australia, most people are friendly and its not uncommon for people to ask you to take a photo with their camera. I get regularly get asked to take a photo with peoples phone or camera because Im caring a camera they think I may be good at photography, usually have to get them to show me how to use their phone, or if Im with my wife I pass it to her as she is far better at such things.
Never been asked with a film camera. Have someone ask while setting up the 8x10 if it were 35mm and a lady who couldn't comprehend how such a camera would work when I showed her inside after taking the film holder out that the bellows were empty "wheres the camera part".

Paul Howell · Jan 18, 2020

I never been asked, odd I get a lot request to use other peoples camera to take their pictures, now days smart phones, I guess it's because I usually shoot alone so maybe they don't see a point of just me standing their all by my self. If I were to be asked I would pass, or as I usually have a 35mm point and shoot give them the point and shoot, hard to mess up.

reddesert · Jan 18, 2020

When I take photos of people, especially a group, I usually take at least two so that there's a backup or insurance against somebody squinting or blinking.

I've rarely handed a big old film camera to people as the OP describes recently, but I've often taken group shots for people with their camera or phone, and sometimes handed my camera or phone to people so they can take my group. Most people are pretty honest, and you can get a sense of them quickly. I don't worry about that stuff too much. I would be more worried about someone jamming my camera than running off with it.

Sirius Glass · Jan 19, 2020

k.hendrik said:
You PASS voluntary your precious Nikon F4 to a 'kind' goon? asking for a violent robbery !
Even in my own house; nobody toucha my apperatus without my strickt permission

Me too! I am particular about who handles my junk!

bdial · Jan 19, 2020

It’s easy, just don’t hand your camera to someone who looks like they can run faster than you.

I’ve been asked to take someone else’s picture with their camera far more often than the other way around.

CMoore · Jan 19, 2020

Robin Guymer said:
Gee I thought this would be a fun thread. Am astonished that the replies are all about potential crime. Glad I live in Australia despite we are going up in smoke.

abruzzi · Jan 20, 2020

Take your group selfies with a large format camera. That will scare off any passerbys from offering to help.

pentaxuser · Jan 21, 2020

Robin Guymer said:
Gee I thought this would be a fun thread. Am astonished that the replies are all about potential crime. Glad I live in Australia despite we are going up in smoke.

Robin, people may suspect that what you are not telling us is that after frame 4 you then wound the strap around her neck several times to ensure it didn't slip off . I thought of it as a fun thread straight away.

Long live a society where the phrase " No worries" is used and meant with sincerity and only walking up taipan alley is dangerous. We have Tin Pan Alley in London but a bite in the wallet there is preferable to a bite in the leg from your residents

pentaxuser

Smaug01 · Jan 27, 2020

Funny post. Yeah, I'm nervous about handing a camera to a stranger. I'm usually the guy who offers to take the selfie pic with someone's phone.

perkeleellinen · Jan 27, 2020

Yes, this has happened to me a few times and I've always give my camera. Perhaps I also judge the person / context / area before doing so, perhaps without realising.

One time a fast motor drive camera resulted in 8-10 shots taken!

pentaxuser · Jan 27, 2020

awty said:
We have a low crime rate here in Australia, most people are friendly and its not uncommon for people to ask you to take a photo with their camera. .

That's my impression. It is an open society where friendliness is offered unconditionally and expected in return. One reserved Brit tourist who hadn't responded in kind when he received this friendliness was seen to be in trouble in a croc infested river. Two laid-back Aussies were watching. One said to the other "I suppose we'd better help him and the other replied "OK but I warn you that if we rescue him he still might not want to talk to us

pentaxuser

mark · Jan 27, 2020

Vaughn said:
I'm standing there with my LF camera (5x7 up to 11x14), and I get asked to snap someone's photo for them using their camera/phone. Yes...sometimes I have to ask them where the darn button is, saying "Sorry, I'm not use to cameras with batteries...". Good for a laugh! And gets them thinking -- a camera without the need for batteries? No need for power of any kind? (well, mechanical power stored in springs). I routinely use a 110 year old camera -- that takes a while to sink in for some people.

Even better, someone will come up and put their camera/phone right next to my 8x10 camera and take a photo -- I tell them they should put their camera right above my lens to capture the same perspective...I might even recommend a focal length to match my lens. No one has ever taken me up on it.

I was focusing my view camera once when something moved in front of the lens. I popped out to find some numb nut putting his digital camera right in front of my lens to take the photo..

Back on topic, yes I have allowed someone to take our pictures, and I have been asked many times to take other peoples'.

benjiboy · Feb 8, 2020

I don't mind taking pictures of people with their own cameras, but I don't let anyone use my cameras, my sister in law once asked to borrow one and I refused.

mrosenlof · Feb 8, 2020

I find when I'm setting up a medium format or larger camera on a tripod, I might get asked to take someone's photo with their camera, and I'm happy to help out. I've occasionally seen people switching off taking the group photo of "everybody else" and have offered, usually accepted. I don't think I've ever been offered a photo taken of me (us) with my camera. I would normally decline politely, but not out of fear. I believe that 99% or more of people are honest enough that I'm not paranoid.

The 3 shot passerby

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